Time for change
Lean Production: A Capitalist Utopia?
• [4/$5/35FF. Cheque payable to P. Rousset, IIRE, Postbus 53290, 1007 Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The left regroupment party And Jef-PADS is preparing for parliamentary elections on May 24th.
Speeches alternated with songs and dance at the second African Party for Democracy and Socialism (PADS) congress in Dakar on February 14th. The 2,000 participants approved an anticapitalist and anti-imperialist programme, and a series of urgent measures for dealing with the misery oppressing the people of Senegal. They chanted the Party's central slogan, and the title of its new bi-monthly magazine, "Foly!" (Throw them out, make the change!) .
President since 1981 (and Prime Minister since 1970) Abdou Diouf is one of Africa's most veteran and corrupt leaders. His Parti socialiste, (Socialist Party) is one of the main African pillars of the Socialist (2nd) International of world social democracy.
Encouraged by their remarkable 9% score in the 1996 municipal elections, the PADS is determined to overthrow the corrupt and discredited regime.
The PADS hopes to win 20% of the vote in parliamentary elections later this month and form its own parliamentary
But this will require a massive effort, particularly in the face of the regime's widespread electoral fraud.
The congress decided to place two PADS militants in each of the 8,200 voting stations, and create self-defence groups of about 10 comrades in each of the 1,200 electoral districts, to ensure that citizens can exercise their right to vote. Delegates also voted to work for the construction of "popular committees for electoral
This second PADS congress was front page news in the written media, but only received one minute of (soundless) television coverage. The Diouf regime is determined to prevent the PADS presenting its message to the 70% of the population who regime is particularly frightened of the personal popuLanding Savané, who will challenge President Diouf in the 2002 presidential elections. regime's television brainwashing, the PADS is increasing its network of local meetings and public debates. Reflecting the importance of the spoken word in Senegal, the PADS programme was read from the tribune, so that illiterate delegates could participate fully in the debate.
The PADS has already won considerable public support and sympathy. The task facing it now is to organise this support. One step forward was the December 1997 formation of a PADS youth movement.
Anther was the creation of a PADS women's movement, launched at a pre-conference caucus of 500 women delegates, which also fixed as its goal male-female parity in the leading bodies of the party. What kind of party?
In effect, the PADS is both an avant-garde organisation and a mass party, searching for an appropriate model of organisation, education and expression. The tendency in internal debates is to avoid polarisation, and to adopt positions once they have won the support of all components of the party.
As a result, rather than accepting the suggestion of some leading members that the PADS should join the Socialist (2nd)
Senegal * International ("to have more support abroad"), delegates voted to delay a decision on the proposal Sometimes voting cannot be avoided. A proposal to create a post of party president, as well as a general secretary, was rejected by delegates after a long debate. The PADS faces a real challenge. A growing part recognises the party as the kernel of a political colonial Diouf regime. But, like the people who place their hopes in them, the PADS is poor, and without resource. International solidarity is crucial if the party is to confront the power of the regime in this month's elections. Internationalism
And Jef-PADS was created in 1991 as the fusion of three far left groups. And Jef (Act Together!) was founded in 1974 as an underground, Maoist group. The Union démocratique populaire (UDP) was a smaller ex-Maoist group, and the Organisation socialiste des travailleurs (OST) was the Senegalese section of the
Few in number, the members of the former OST are widely appreciated for their active role in building the PADS at every level. Fourth International supporter Amadou Guiro, was elected to the PADS political bureau, as Secretary for Political Life.
There was a standing ovation for the French revolutionary Alain Krivine, who delivered messages of solidarity on behalf of the Fourth International. [G/JD] *
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
Senegal readers' fund
Many PADS militants read
Inprecor, the French version of Inter-
Revolutionary strategy today
Daniel Bensaid
• £2.00/$3.50/20FF. Cheque payable to P. Rousset, IRE, Postbus 53290, 1007 Amsterdam, Netherlands national Viewpoint. But the gap between our production costs and their
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION resources has always been a barrier
Do the workers have a country?
to wider circulation.
In response to the repeated requests of our Senegalese readers, we have established a special fund to subsidise Inprecor distribution. British
• £2.50/$4. Cheque payable to P. Rousset, IRE, Postbus 53290, 1007 Amsterdam, Netherlands.
cheques should be made payable to
Outlook International. US Cheques
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION payable to International Viewpoint.
Other countries please consult your
International Viewpoint subscription agent. Mark all payments "Senegal
Inprecor fund."
by José Iriarte "Bikila"
Tony Smith